Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev and Khotin (1873-1965) was a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, a prolific writer and theologian, and the second First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

In the world Aleksandr Alekseyevich Gribanovsky, he was born August 6, 1873, in Bratki village, Borisoglebsky district of Tambov province, Russia, to Priest Aleksey and his wife Anna (nee Karmazina).

After completing the Tambov Religious School and then the Theological Seminary, he enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy, then under the rectorship of Archimandrite Anthony (Khrapovitsky), the future Metropolitan and First Hierarch of the ROCOR. After completing the Academy, in April 1898, he was tonsured a monk by Bishop Alexander of Tambov with the name Anastasy for St Anastasy of Sinai. On April 23, 1898, he was ordained hierodeacon, and shortly thereafter hieromonk.

In 1900, hieromonk Anastasy was appointed inspector of the Bethany Theological Seminary, near Trinity - St. Sergius Lavra. In 1901 - inspector of the Moscow Theological Seminary, with elevation to the rank of archimandrite. On June 29, 1906, he was ordained Bishop of Serpukhov, vicar of the Moscow diocese. At his ordination, he pronounced a remarkable homily "The True Way of Christ's Pastoral Work", in which he proficied the upcoming turmoil and persecutions.

In the position of vicar of the Moscow diocese, Bishop Anastasy's responsibilities included daily services in the Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and other Moscuvite churches and monasteries, as well as visitations of parishes, direction of institutions of theological learning, and direction of a committee to celebrate the 100-th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and the 300-th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.

In May 1914, Bishop Anastasy was appointed to the Kholm and Liublin cathedra.